A NIGHTCLUB which closed down after an arson attack left it with more than £100,000 worth of damage will be converted into a new bar and restaurant with flats above.

Robin Levy - who owns the Bell Hotel, in Leigh, with his son Ben - applied to turn Element nightclub, in Alexandra Street, Southend, into five flats spread across the first and second floor.

The nightclub opened in 2009 but closed in 2015. A planning application was submitted shortly after that – but it was recommended for refusal because developers had not done a suitable noise assessment.

A new planning application was submitted in September last year, with additional noise assessments attached.

The proposal will see the basement turned into a pub. A third of the ground floor will be converted into a cafe or restaurant, with the rest of it being used as another pub or bar.

The first and second floor are going to be converted into five self-contained flats. Part of the roof would be demolished to form amenity space. The flats will consist of four two-bedroom flats and one single bedroom flat.

A report from planning officers to the development control committee read: “The difference between the last application and this one is that they have now demonstrated that suitable mitigation measures can be achieved.”

Although the plans were recommended for approval by officers, some members of the committee raised concerns - especially with parking.

Jonathan Garston, Tory councillor for Milton, said: “Having no parking at all will continue to put pressure on the area.

“Residents moving into that area will ask their councillor why they can’t have a parking space.”

Chris Walker, Eastwood Park councillor, added: “Is there anything about cycles? Because if they can’t have a car with no parking available, they might have a bike.”

Officers advised bike spaces would be available nearby. Parking does not need to be included because of the location close to Southend Central stations.

Committee chairman Floyd Waterworth said: “It will be a lovely place to live. You can look over the sea and if you need to go anywhere you can catch a train."

Fourteen members voted to approve the applications, with one abstaining from the vote.

Developers Robin and Ben Levy were not present at the meeting and did not wish to comment when approached by the Echo.